Trinket or ring holder

ABSTRACT

A cup-shaped holder for a ring or like trinket with inner surfaces which engage with and hold the annular part of the ring while the ring mount serves to close the mouth of the holder. The inner surfaces of the holder co-operate with the annular part of the ring to exert a compressive force on the ring which is removed after the major portion of the ring passes into an expanded portion of the holder.

United States Patent McPhail [s4] TRINKET 0R RING HOLDER [21] Appl. N0.:880,863

[52] US. Cl ..206/1 R, 46/11, 206/46AM, 220/60 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d1/00 [58] Field of Search ..46/11; 63/30; 206/1 R, 1.5, 206/37 R, 46 R,46 AM, 5 A, 15.1 B; 215/52; 220/24.5, 60 R, DIG. 13

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 775,917 11/1904 Gillette..215/52 2,858,955 11/1958 Kroenert ..220/60 R X [451 Oct. 10, 19722,998,896 9/1961 Miller ..220/60 R X 3,023,925 3/1962 Sher ..220/603,281,002 10/1966 Geiss ..2l5/52 3,236,002 2/ 1966 Cunningham et al....220/60 R X Primary ExaminerJoseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-StevenE. Lipman Attorney-Neill M. S. Johnston [57] ABSTRACT A cup-shapedholder for a ring or like trinket with inner surfaces which engage withand hold the annular part of the ring while the ring mount serves toclose the mouth of the holder. The inner surfaces of the holderco-operate with the annular part of the ring to exert a compressiveforce on the ring which is removed after the major portion of the ringpasses into an expanded portion of the holder.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to trinkets, rings and the like and more particularly to suchitems as are sold from vending machines.

There is a firmly established market for trinkets and the like which aresold through vending machines. The sale of rings presented someconsiderable problem for in the passage of the ring down the dispensingchute and in its random disposition within the vending chamber the ringtends to engage other trinkets or rings. This sometimes led to thedispensing of more than one trinket or jamming of the dispensing chute.

These problems were resolved in a large measure by the provision of acapsule which surrounded the trinket and prevented the randomengagement. These capsules were sufficient but they were relativelyexpensive.

In the subject invention there is provided a capshaped enclosure inwhich the ring mount is seated in the mouth and the annular ring isresiliently engaged with and secured in the capsule by engagement withthe capsule wall. This arrangement, using the ring mount to provide thecapsule closure is more economical and serves to make the package moreappealing. The ring is also firmly held in position and less likely tobe subject to damage.

It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide animproved holder for trinkets or rings or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a holder fortrinkets or rings or the like which is economical to produce.

In accordance with these objects there is provided in the presentinvention a holder for a trinket having an annular part and a wider ringmount comprising: a wall providing a cup-shaped ring enclosure with amount dimensioned to seat a ring mount, said enclosure wall having apair of opposed inner surfaces defining a first outer narrowed portionfor resiliently engaging said annular part and a second expanded portionfor receiving a major portion of said annular part to restrain movementof said annular part out of said capsule.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and features of the inventionwill be more apparent from the following description and drawings inwhich a specific embodiment is described by way of example and in whichFIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a ring or trinket holder inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section through an assembled ring and holder in accordancewith the present invention.

As shown in the drawings a ring or like trinket is indicated at 12 andcomprises an annular member 13 with an enlarged mount or back 14. Themount 14 may be provided with a design or decorated in any suitablefashion. Over the design a convex clear cover which may function as alens is mounted. The mounting securement may be made by any suitableadhesive or by pressurable engagement with an upstanding rim 15.

Referring now to both FIGS. 1 and 2 a trinket holder is generallyindicated at 16 and comprises a substantially cup-shaped shell or wall17 with a mouth 22.

M u 2isdi e ionedtoseatth rin mo tl4.A pair t iametri alli opposedinwardly etend ir i g channels 18 and 19 whose bottom or inner walls 20and 21 respectively provide a ring-engaging surface extend up the wall17 as shown. There surfaces 20 and 21 are spaced apart a distanceslightly less than the outer diameter of the annular part of the ring 13so that it may be urged through this narrowed portion with a compressivefit.

On the outer surface of bottom walls 20 and 21 radial ribs 26 and 27extend outwardly. These ribs are not entirely necessary but in thisembodiment they provide reinforcement. And on either side of channels 18and 19 a pair of inwardly extending walls 30 and 31 project. These wallsserve to limit rotation of the annular part 13.

Beyond channels 18 and 19 a pair of slots 32 and 33 are provided in thecapsule wall 17. These slots with channels 18 and 19 define edges 34 and35 at the junction of these channels with their respective slots.

To mount or secure a ring 12 in the holder 16 the annular part of thering 13 is inserted in holder 16 so that the annular part is alignedwith the channels 18 and 19 and in engagement with the inner surfacesthereof. The ring is then pushed in and with the compressive fit thering will tend to be slightly compressed. When the major part of thering has passed edges 34 and 35 the compressive force will be removedand the ring will expand and be locked securely in position byengagement with slots 32 and 33 and edges 34 and 35 bearing upon theannular part of the ring. To remove the ring the mount is simply pulledoutward and the process is reversed. The materials employed for theshell 16 are a clear plastic although any other suitable material may beemployed.

As will be seen from the above description a holder in accordance withthe invention provides a holder of reduced cost in that only onecomponent is necessary and a reduced amount of material is required.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other equivalentstructures may be employed without separating from the scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination of a ring and holder therefor, said ring comprising asubstantially circular ring mount having a lower surface and a resilientring part extending from said lower surface of said ring mount; saidholder comprising a wall defining a generally cupshaped capsule havingan open end dimensioned to seat said ring mount, a pair of diametricallyopposed inwardly extending channels having opposed inner surfaces spacedapart a predetermined distance less than the diameter of said ringmount, adjacent said open end, a pair of slots each aligned with andspaced inwardly from a respective one of said channels and extendingthrough said wall adjacent to said channels, and a pair of inwardlyextending flanges extending along each of said channels and slots, saidring mount being seated at said open end with said ring part beingremovably received in said slots in a snap-fitting relationshiptherewith.

1. The combination of a ring and holder therefor, said ring comprising asubstantially circular ring mount having a lower surface and a resilientring part extending from said lower surface of said ring mount; saidholder comprising a wall defining a generally cup-shaped capsule havingan open end dimensioned to seat said ring mount, a pair of diametricallyopposed inwardly extending channels having opposed inner surfaces spacedapart a predetermined distance less than the diameter of said ringmount, adjacent said open end, a pair of slots each aligned with andspaced inwardly from a respective one of said channels and extendingthrough said wall adjacent to said channels, and a pair of inwardlyextending flanges extending along each of said channels and slots, saidring mount being seated at said open end with said ring part beingremovably received in said slots in a snap-fitting relationshiptherewith.